Stretcher.



W. B. REED.

STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7.1910.

Patented Nov.1'5,1910.

2 BHEETB-SHEET 2.

STATES aan oren.

WALTER IB. REEDQOF WHITE CLOUD, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T CELIA I. MANNING, OF WHITE CLOUD, MICHIGAN.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

,Application led May 7, 1910. Serial No. 559,953.

- citizen of the United States of America, residing at White Cloud, in the county of specilication an Newaygo and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stretchers, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to stretchers, and has for an object to provide a device of this character embodying a novel form of knockdown frame supporting the canvas or bottom.

In the drawin s, forming a portionof this in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved stretcher. Fig. 2 is a detail section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail plan View of one of theside mem- "ber's of one of the frame sections, parts being shown in section to clearly illustrate the invention. Fi 4.- is an end view of the stretcher. Fig. 5 is a sectional-end elevation showing'the legsin a partly folded position.

ig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the elastic retainer.

My improved stretcher consists 'of companion sections 1 and 2, the section 2 being provided with spaced side bars 3 having reduced end portions 4 which fit into the opposing ends of the side members 5 of the ysection 2. The side members 5 are connected with each other by a head member 6 which is similar to the head member 7 which connects the sides 3 of the member 2. A canvas or bottom-forming member 8 is arranged in the frame formed by the just described stretcher, and as illustrated, the said canvas is provided at its'ends with suitable straps 9 which are secured to the head members 6 and 7. The head members 6 and 7 are spaced .from the ends of the canvas 8 and they are so constructed as to electively form handles or grips by which the device can be carried from place to place. The sides of the canvas are provided With straps 10 which are secured to the sides of the members 1 and 2'. Each end member is preferably formed to :provide short extensions 11 which receive the outer extremities of the sides 3 and 5 of the said companion sections 1 and 2. Revolubly mounted elements 12 are lmounted on the short extensions of the head members and they are slotted, as shown at 13, for the rebers 19 of the braces are provided ception of suitable stops 14 on such eXtensions. Leg members 15 are carried by the elements 12 and from the construction of .the said elements 12 it will be apparent that the legs may be folded to lie on each other as shown in Fig. 5, or they may be folded so as t0 vdepend from the frame-like structure as shown in Fig. 4. To hold the legs in their extended ositions I provide at each end of the stretdher a brace 16 consisting of the interlocking movable sections 17, 18 and 19, the sections 17 and 19 being suitably secured to the companion legs. The head member 6 has secured thereto a foot support 20.4 Suitable straps'21 are secured to the sides of the frame sections and they are designed to be extended across the canvas bottom 8 and over the bod sup orted on the stretcherv to prevent the body rom falling forward when the stretcher is placed on one end. Straps 22 are secured to the sides -of the companion members 1 and 2 of the stretcher and they are designed to be passed over the body to hold the same against accidentally falhng off of the canvas.

The construction of the stretcher herein described and shown is ,extremely simple and is such that it can be moved from place to place and transported in such places where but very little ioor space is had. l

Should it be'desired to hold the body in an upright position 'after it has been operatively p aced on the stretcher the legs of the stretcher may be folded toassume the positions shown in Fig. 2, after which the same stretcher may be supported by one'of its ends so that the feet of the person on the stretcher rest directly against the foot rest 2O ofthe head 6. When the stretch r is placed vertically or substantially as above described, it is desirable to 4.ploy such a retainer as that shown at 23 in Figs.` 1 and 6 of the drawings. This retainer is formed of elastic material and its ends are rovided with suitable hooks 24 which. are

esi ned for engagement with the side bars of tie companion frames of the stretcher. The 4said retainer may be passed directly over the head of the vperson to prevent the head from falling forward.

The members 17 of. the braces 16 are provided with stop pins 17 and 18. The mem- With stop pins 19" and the slots 20. When the sections 17, 18 and 19 of thebraces are in a y1s formed to section 17 is seated in a slot 2111- in the section 18. The said section 18vis provided with a pin which fits in the slot 201 in' the section 19. This construction is such that the sections 17, 18 and 19 are held rigidly in a horizontal position. The section 18 rovide slots 27 and 28 for receiving the pins 18 and 19 of the sections 17 and 19-When the sections are in their folded positions. t

The canvas bottom 8 is provided at one end with a handle 28 and with straps 29. These straps may be suitably Wrapped around the structure when it is knocked down forordinary transportation or when it is desired to store the same.

I claim:

A stretcher comprising a frame formed of end head members, spaced sectional side members removably engaged at their opposite ends With the saidl head members, pivsas/agee otally mounted legs supported by the said head members, the said head members andv the said legs being formed to limit the movements of the legs and to permit them to be folded to lie against each other and at one side of t-he head members, sectional braces connecting the legs of each head member and adapted to be folded to lie against each other when the legs are folded, a canvas 'bottom removably supported by the said head members and between `said sectional side j members, straps for extension across thev saidV in presence o two Witnesses.

WALTER E. REED.

Witnesses R. J. BARNES, C. E. WILSON. 

